How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies In A Bar – 5 Tips

Fruit flies are annoying! If fruit flies are hounding you, I can guarantee they are annoying you wherever you are, every time.

This is especially true if you are trying to chill out in a bar, but you constantly have to swat fruit flies as they buzz around your head, and worse, your drink. If you are the owner, you probably want to know how to get rid of fruit flies in a bar!

If only to stop your customers from getting frustrated, right?

How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies In A Bar

5 Reasons Why Flies Are Attracted To Bars

If you want to know how to get rid of fruit flies in a bar, you first need to understand why they like your bar, and it isn’t due to the fantastic atmosphere and reasonable prices!


Fruit

Fruit flies are attracted to the fruit; the name gives it away, right?

Whilst it could be any fruit, they are most attracted to rotting fruit, or fruit that is very ripe.

Decomposing apples are the best thing that attracts fruit flies, followed by banana peel (blackened).


Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most common things to attract fruit flies, especially cider.

Being in a bar, there is likely to be lots of alcoholic drinks around, which is why you have issues with fruit flies.


Sweet Drinks

Drinks that are heavily laden with sugar are attractive to all flies, including fruit flies.

There are likely tons of surgery drinks on tables, the bar, or even on the floor. These drinks are attracting fruit flies to your bar.


Drink Spills

While all the drinks I mentioned are attracting fruit flies to your bar, it is easy to cover these up to reduce the chances of getting fruit flies.

You also need to be aware of any spillages that you haven’t cleaned up yet. For example, being in a bar is very common, especially as folks drink too much, right?


Vegetables

I think you get the picture here. Food and rink attract fruit flies!

It isn’t just fruit, though; it is also vegetables that attract them to your bar. So make sure these are cleaned up as soon as your customer is finished.


How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies In A Bar – 5 Tips

How To Get Rid Of Fruit Flies In A Bar Infographic

If you want to know how to get rid of fruit flies in a bar, follow these 5 tips.


Home Made Traps

To make a homemade fruit fly trap, you will need a jar, some cellophane, and some cider or apple cider vinegar.

  1. Pour some apple cider vinegar into the jar.
  2. Cover the top of the jar with cellophane. Use an elastic band to keep it in place.
  3. Poke some holes on the top of the cellophane.

You can make a few of these and scatter them around the bar area. The fruit flies will get into the trap, but they are not easy to escape from.


Pro Traps

Professional traps are similar to homemade traps to keep fruit flies away from your bar.

They are usually small containers full of fruit juice to attract the flies. It is easy for the flies to enter but almost impossible to leave (like Hotel California!)

These pro traps last up to 180 days before they need replacing, so they are worth the investment!


Sprays

Sprays are excellent and work very well. There is a slight danger when using them in public places, such as bars.

These sprays tend to smell quite a bit, and it lingers!

Also – it is a bit off-putting for your customers if you are running around spraying flies while they are relaxing with a beer!

You can create homemade sprays using peppermint oil mixed with water in a spray bottle.


Electric Bug Zapper

Electric bug zappers are probably one of the least intrusive ways to get rid of fruit flies in a bar!

Bug zappers will sit on a wall, ceiling, or even on the bar. Flies and other flying creatures are attracted to UV light. As soon as they touch the lamps, they get an electric shock which kills them instantly.

These are good for flies, and mosquitoes too.

Some of these traps are effective up to 80 feet away, which will easily cover your bar area. These are a must-have fly killer if some of your customers eat outside!


Tidy Food Away Quickly

The quicker you take food away, the less likely it will attract fruit flies to your bar.

This isn’t a magic fix because, being a bar, folks will be enjoying their food, both inside and outside your bar.


Frequently Asked Questions

What causes fruit flies in a bar?

Fruit flies are attracted to rotting food, sweet drinks, and alcoholic drinks. It is fair to say that a bar will have plenty of these 3 huge attractions! Knowing how to get rid of fruit flies in a bar is good, but you have to understand that keeping them from getting in is challenging. Instead, you should think about setting traps to keep them away from your loyal customers!

What can I spray on fruit flies to kill them?

All insecticides will do an excellent job of killing fruit flies. You can also spray bleach or peppermint oil to kill fruit flies. Be wary, though; if you are doing this in a crowded place such as a bar, your customers may not appreciate it!

What will keep fruit flies away?

You will get fruit flies if you have a bar with food, drink, windows, or doors open. It is how you deal with them that is important. You should set up fruit fly traps, and you should also use an electric UV fly trap too. They will get in, and it is up to you to deal with them when they do. Do not leave food out for longer than you need to, and clear drinks away immediately.


Conclusion

If you want to know how to get rid of fruit flies in a bar, then the 5 tips on this page have given you exactly what you need!

I said it in this post a couple of times, but as you have a bar, you will be serving drinks and probably serving food. Not only that, but you will also have windows and doors open, and maybe even folks eating and drinking outside. It is almost impossible to stop fruit flies from getting into your bar. It doesn’t mean that you can’t deal with them, though!

Homemade or professional traps are available and work like a charm to get rid of fruit flies. You should always have an electric trap right by any entrance, such as a door or a window. These traps will attract flies before they get into your bar.

Good luck!

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About the author

DIY Pest Control Enthusiast Since 1996

After spending the entire night lying awake in a cockroach-infested hotel, I have driven myself to build knowledge on all things pest control. Since then, I've tested pest control techniques to see what works and what doesn't. Now, here I am giving you all the info I have learned!

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